Pitchers are a hit

A roundup of the week in county baseball and softball

Sherwood senior left-handed pitcher Erin McMakin was one check-swing pop fly away from a perfect game in the Warriors' 17-0, five-inning softball win over Magruder March 30. She faced 15 batters and struck out 14 of them. Sherwood has run-ruled three of its five opponents in five innings.

- Good Counsel junior pitcher Taylor Wigmore walloped a three-run home run out of the Marshall High (Va.) stadium in the Falcons' 10-5 loss April 1. It was Good Counsel's only loss in its last five games. It was Wigmore's team-high third homer of the season; she is the only player on the team to hit one this year.

- In a battle of two former Blair baseball teammates, Blake coach David Schipani's squad eked out a 2-1, eight-inning win over Louie Hoelman's Blazers March 30. The two graduated from Blair in 1983 and remain good friends.

- Seneca Valley has scored 61 runs in its four-game winning streak heading into spring break. The Screaming Eagles erased an early 8-1 deficit to defeat Poolesville, 16-12, in eight innings March 31. It was their first win over the Falcons in five years.

- Patti Maloney, who leads Poolesville with a .583 batting average and 20 runs batted in, has knocked in 30 percent of the team's 66 runs.

Earning the opening-day start because of injury, Marston has compiled a 2-0 record, including a two-hit shutout of Richard Montgomery (3-1). He also owns an 11-2 win against Blake and concluded the week with a 1.00 earned run average, striking out 10 in 14 innings.

- Quince Orchard left-hander Mike Ryan has been dominant since starting the season with a 3-2 loss to Damascus. Ryan, an All-Gazette first-team selection in 2008, has won his last two decisions and picked up a save for the Cougars. In 18 1/3 innings, Ryan has compiled a 0.76 ERA while striking out 12.

- Walter Johnson shortstop Robin Mowatt ended the week on fire at the plate, collecting 12 hits in his first 18 at-bats. Among those hits, he has collected three triples, two doubles and a home run while driving in six runs. He has been solid on the mound, as well, going 1-1 with 12 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

- Less than a week after falling, 11-1, in six innings to Kennedy, Northwood collected its first victory in a 12-2, five-inning decision against those same Cavaliers March 30. Gladiators left-hander Jimmy Hessler led the way, allowing two hits with 12 strikeouts while collecting two RBI and four runs at the plate.

- Quotable: "He is confident and unflappable and he commands three pitches well. He makes hitters put the ball in play and we have played two errorless games behind him."